Kirsty Coventry: IOC boss’s parents held at gunpoint in Zimbabwe home invasion
Two brothers were arrested and have appeared in a Zimbabwe court accused of an armed robbery at the home of new International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry’s parents,.
John and Mike Nhongwe are accused of stealing some of double Olympic swimming champion Coventry’s sporting memorabilia.
The pair are alleged to have stolen cash and items worth $US90,000 ($A143,000) and holding Coventry’s parents at gunpoint, according to police.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The items stolen included jewellery, firearms and some of Coventry’s souvenirs from her career, as well as $US15,000 ($A24,000) in cash.
Police and prosecutors did not give details of the memorabilia, but state media reported it included some of Coventry’s Olympic clothing. They said the robbery happened on March 10.
Coventry, 41, was elected as the new president of the IOC on Thursday in Greece, becoming the first woman and first African to take the most powerful job in sports. She competed at five summer Games before retiring in 2016 and is the most decorated of all African Olympians.
She has served as Zimbabwe’s sports minister since 2018 and is expected to return to her home country on Sunday, according to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
Police say the Nhongwe brothers tied Coventry’s parents up with shoelaces at their home in the Zimbabwe capital, Harare.
It was not clear if Coventry was in Zimbabwe at the time, which was during the final run-in to the IOC vote.
Coventry’s eight-year term as the head of the global Olympic body will begin in June. She will succeed Germany’s Thomas Bach, who has been president of the IOC since 2013.
